Cube satellite production from Turkish firms

Turkish companies have established the Satellite Technologies Initiative Group to produce cube satellites. Hedef Elektronik, Skytech, Neta, Profen, and QSTC, one of Canada's leading satellite manufacturers, have joined forces.

A cooperation protocol has been signed between the five companies. A company named KÜPSAT A.Ş. will be established. The first satellite will be produced in the coming months and sent into space in the first half of 2024.

FIRST SATELLITE TO BE LAUNCHED IN 2024

Pointing out that small and cube satellites have many areas of use, Hedef Elektronik Chairman of the Board Hayrettin Özaydın said, "The number of satellites in all orbits will increase rapidly day by day. Time will tell what this situation will bring, but Russia, and subsequently the US and China, have revealed their goals to be an effective power in this field by establishing Space Force Commands. As a country, we must not fall behind in this struggle and should legitimize our presence in this field by establishing a Ministry of Space Defense." Özaydın added, "As the UTGG, we have established such a group with all our stakeholders for the purpose of cube satellite research, development, and mass production in Turkey. We will start operations by establishing a new company under the name Küpsat A.Ş. within a month at the latest. Our goal is to launch our first satellite within the first six months of 2024."

He also stated that once mass production begins, the target markets outside of Turkey will be the MENA region, Central Asia, and North African countries.

Gurvinder Chohan, Chairman of the Board of Canada's QSTC, expressed that they want to develop business opportunities in Turkey and the surrounding region, and that they are happy to play a role in local production and product development. Reminding that Turkey is an earthquake-prone country, Chohan also stated that early warning systems for natural disasters, especially earthquakes, can be provided with cube satellites launched into low orbit.

SUPPORT TO BE RECEIVED FROM ITU

Taking the floor at the meeting, Neta Sales Manager Derviş Gedikoğlu stated that Küpsat A.Ş. will be established at ITU Teknopark and that ITU will also support the project with its laboratories. Emphasizing how important domestic production is for our economy, Gedikoğlu said, "I sincerely believe that this initiative will be very successful and grow; may it be beneficial to our country."

FACTORY TO BE ESTABLISHED IN ANKARA

Stating that although the management center will be at ITU Teknopark, production will take place in a factory to be built in Ankara, Skytech CEO Uğur Ünsal said, "A factory with an area of 25 decares will be built in Elmadağ, Ankara. We want to make the factory ready for mass production as soon as possible."

Profen Satellite Services General Manager A. Gürkan Sencar, who has had many initiatives in the field of telecommunications to date, wished the UTGG to be beneficial to our entire country and said, "We are in the evaluation phase for the participation of new stakeholders in the initiative. We will be stronger with those newly added to the group and will produce better work."